She was told that, as a result of the operation, she might not have any more children. There were, however, more serious concerns weighing upon her mind. Throughout her life, Kathleen had felt the pain and regret of growing up without a mother. The night before the surgery, she prayed that she would live until she was at least 40 so that she could raise her two sons.

Perhaps her prayers were answered. After that, siX more children would arrive without complications. By the time Kathleen was 40 years old, she would be the mother of eight healthy, rambunctious and happy children who kept the Murphy household in a state of constant activity.

Because of Kathleen’s health, she was unable to attend D’Arcy’s baptism. Of all the subsequent baptisms of her children and grandchildren, it was the only one she ever missed.

In the fall of 1953, while Bill was traveling, Kathleen, along with Shawn and D’Arcy, came back to Kinkora to help her bother Earl during the potato harvest. While looking after Shawn and D’Arcy, she cooked for Earl and his hired help, and stayed with Bill’s mother in Emerald at night.

Bill’s job increasingly took him back to Prince Edward Island. He was on the Island during the summers of 1953 and 1954, and the family rented a cottage on the Brighton shore from the Pickard family.

Back in Halifax for the winter, Kathleen busied herself with housekeeping and looking after her two young sons. From their apartment on Hillside Drive, it was only a short walk to the lakes where they went skating. They continued to socialize with friends, and although they did not travel to Prince Edward Island much during the winter months, they kept in close touch with their families back on the Island.

Although they both enjoyed living in Halifax, an opening in the Department of Fisheries was coming up in Charlottetown in the spring of 1955. The idea of returning to Prince Edward Island was too strong to resist. Bill applied for, and got the job. They were coming home.

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